Evening Roundup

January 31: Jen Rubin speaks with three national intelligence experts, Ellen Blain examines the military’s latest DEI clash, and Jamie Schler & Atticus deliver some much-needed comfort to end the week

Good evening Contrarians,

Well, we’ve reached the end of week 2 of the Trump presidency, or has it already been 6 months? We can’t tell.

As Kash Patel and Tulsi Gabbard faced confirmation hearings for top national security roles, Jen Rubin interviewed three experts to unpack the stakes of Trump’s controversial picks to lead these critical agencies.

First up was Andrew Weissmann, a professor of practice at NYU School of Law who served as a lead prosecutor in Robert S. Mueller’s Special Counsel’s Office and as General Counsel for the FBI. Jen and Weissmann discuss the controversial firings of FBI agents who worked on Jan. 6 investigations and what Patel’s likely confirmation as FBI Director will mean for national intelligence.

Though one potential risk to national security is more than enough, we get a twofer! Jen Rubin’s next interview with Asha Rangappa highlights the anticipated leadership sinkhole within the intelligence community–begining with a critical examination of Tulsi Gabbard’s qualifications as DNI.

Finally, Jen Rubin, Norm Eisen, and Stuart Gerson take a wide-lens view toward the state of America’s national intelligence institutions.

We strongly encourage you all to watch these videos, as they all speak to legitimate concerns for our “Republic…if we can keep it.” Keeping yourself and your loved ones informed are some of the most important ways in which we can continue cultivating the resistance necessary to fight autocracy.

Last week, we announced the thrilling partnership between the Contrarian and our favorite podcast, “Talking Feds” with founding contributor Harry Litman. Listen to their latest episode “Mayday at DOJ,” available now.

This afternoon we also featured:

*Ellen Blain on how Pete Hegseth’s Anti-DEI Crusade Will Drain Our “Best and Brightest.”

Jamie Schler, who came equipped with the perfect comfort recipe. It shouldn’t be normal to live in constant fear for our democracy—yet here we are. With unqualified confirmations and relentless breaking news, it is important to find respite from the noise, even for a moment.

Last but certainly not least, we’re wrapping up the week with some much-needed levity. This morning, you got cartoons, and now you get cuteness in the form of Atticus–our Contrarian pet of the week.

There’s no sugarcoating it—there’s a lot of darkness in the nation right now. But at The Contrarian, we aim to be a voice of clarity, reason, and honesty within the noise. Our goal isn’t just to amplify the alarm but to cut through the noise with context and an unwavering commitment to refusing to submit to authoritarianism. Knowledge is power, but only when it’s used and shared. That’s why we bring you the insights of those who’ve spent their lives battling corruption in courtrooms, national security experts who understand the real stakes behind political maneuvering, historians who remind us that democracy is only as strong as those willing to defend it, and those who can introduce us to the culture and vibrancy that occurs beyond, in defiance, and despite wannabe dictators. We spotlight bravery in people like Jim Acosta, and the joy to be found in puppies like Atticus, to remind us of the qualities that cannot be stripped away from us. Stay informed, stay engaged, and stay connected to your communities—including this one!

See you on Monday,

The Contrarian